Parma, OH Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

Beekeeping in Ohio is governed primarily by state law. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 909 (apiculture) requires all beekeepers to register their hives annually with the Ohio Department of Agriculture by June 1, regardless of hive count. Registration supports state inspection for American foulbrood and other hive diseases that can spread between apiaries. Registration fees are modest (approximately $5 base plus a per-hive charge). Ohio law does not prohibit beekeeping, but it does not preempt local zoning - cities can regulate hive placement, setbacks, and hive counts. Parma's zoning and Codified Ordinance 618.09 broadly restrict farm animals and fowl, but bees are generally treated as pollinators rather than livestock; practical enforcement in Parma has typically permitted hobby beekeeping in residential rear yards with reasonable setbacks from property lines (commonly 10-25 feet) and flyway barriers (fence or dense shrub) to direct bees upward and away from neighbors. Because CO 618.09 is broadly worded, prospective beekeepers should confirm permitted-use status with Parma Building/Zoning Department before installing hives. HOA covenants in some Parma subdivisions may independently restrict beekeeping.